Maksam Tayeng

PASIGHAT, Dec 18: In an effort to help the farmers of the region in view of the college’s established purpose, the College of Horticulture & Forestry (CHF), Pasighat under the Central Agricultural University, Imphal, today conducted a state level seminar-cum-workshop on ‘exploring potential crops for the food & nutritional security among the hill farmers of Arunachal Pradesh’.
Over 200 farmers from East Siang, Upper Siang, Siang, Lower Dibang Valley, Lower Siang districts of Arunachal Pradesh and farmers from parts of Dhemaji district of Assam participated. The workshop was conducted with the financial support from AICRN on Potential Crops, ICAR–NBPGR, New Delhi.
The programme was initiated with an exposure visit to the experimental fields at College of Horticulture & Forestry, Pasighat  followed by a field visit to buckwheat cultivation under oil palm plantations at College of Agriculture, CAU(I), Pasighat, providing farmers with hands-on learning on diversified cropping systems.
The inaugural programme began with a welcome address by Dr. L. Wangchu, Dean, CHF, Pasighat who emphasized on the importance of potential crops over rice for nutritional security, climate resilience, and sustainable hill farming. Prof. P. Debnath, Chief Organizing Secretary briefed participants on the programme objectives, progress of potential crops in Arunachal Pradesh, future plans, and encouraged farmers through distribution of critical inputs. 
On the part of Dr. Shishil Pandey, Principal Scientist, ICAR–NBPGR, New Delhi, he highlighted about the role of NBPGR, the Second National Gene Bank, climate change concerns, and the health benefits of buckwheat, especially for diabetic patients.
While Dr. S.K. Yadav, Nodal Officer, AICRN on Potential Crops, ICAR–NBPGR, New Delhi shared insights on the journey of potential crops in the state, emphasizing value addition and income enhancement. Prof. Sanjay Swami,  
Dean, highlighted buckwheat as an underutilized crop suitable for intercropping in oil palm integration with Millets.
Meanwhile, former Kishan Morcha President of BJP and present vice president of BJP, Dunggoli Libang, reiterated the Government of Arunachal Pradesh’s vision to enhance farmers’ income. He highlighted that in Arunachal Pradesh the area under buckwheat has increased from about 400 hactares to nearly 5,000 hactares in recent years.
The workshop concluded with a vote of thanks by Dr. Brijendra Singh Rajawat, Principal Scientist & Head, Krishi Vigyan Kendra, East Siang District.
While speaking to the media after the workshop, Dr. S.K. Yadav, Nodal Officer, AICRN on Potential Crops, ICAR–NBPGR, New Delhi, Dr. L. Wangchu, Dean, CHF, Pasighat and Prof. P. Debnath, chief organizing secretary of the state level seminar-cum-workshop said that the day-long programme was very successful which has benefited the farmers with ideas and knowledge on how to grow and cultivate Buckwheat. 
Dr. Wangchu, Dean, CHF, Pasighat who has been seeing the climatic condition, soil and other factors all these years by associating with the CHF, Pasighat and ICAR AP Centre, Basar in West Siang district on which crops would best suit the region, added that the Buckwheat locally called ‘Phapar’ is a most suitable and easy crops for the farmers of Arunachal Pradesh and its region. “From nutritional point of view Buckwheat is a protein rich crop with climate resilience quality which does not require enough water, no fertilizer required and it can be transformed as a major crop which will reduce the nutritional shortages in the children of Arunachal Pradesh”, added Dr. Wangchu.

---

Kenter Joya Riba

(Managing Editor)
      She is a graduate in Science with post graduation in Sociology from University of Pune. She has been in the media industry for nearly a decade. Before turning to print business, she has been associated with radio and television.
Email: kenterjoyaz@easternsentinel.in / editoreasternsentinel@gmail.com
Phone: 0360-2212313

<< Back to News List